International Journal on Criminology Volume 6, Number 2, Winter 2018/Spring 2019 | Page 24

International Journal on Criminology • Volume 6, Number 2 • Winter 2018 / Spring 2019
Colorado: Cannabis Legalization and
the Challenge of Organized Crime
Michel Gandhilon
Graduate of the Institute of Criminology (Panthéon-Assas), researcher at
the French Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Observatoire
français des drogues et des toxicomanies, OFDT) within the Recent Trends
and New Drugs (Tendances récentes et nouvelles drogues, TREND) cluster
and coordinator of the publication Drogues, enjeux internationaux.
Abstract
Despite rising production power and the decline in prices that it
has caused, a significant parallel market for cannabis in plant form
still exists in Colorado. When it comes to small-scale crime, another
phenomenon appears to be a significant shift in activities, as
is attested to by the increasing figures for robberies, burglaries, and
dealing in stolen vehicles.
However, it seems that Colorado’s public authorities have become
aware of this deteriorating situation. The governor of the state, has
decided to revisit aspects of regulation that are likely too liberal,
including those that have favored the emergence of very significant
gray and black markets for marijuana.
Keywords: Cannabis, Legalization, Marijuana, Colorado, Side Effects,
Black Market
Colorado: la legalización del cannabis y
el desafío del crimen organizado
Resumen
A pesar del aumento de la capacidad de producción y la disminución
de los precios que ha causado, en Colorado todavía existe
un importante mercado paralelo para el cannabis en forma de
planta. Cuando se trata de delitos de pequeña escala, otro fenómeno
parece ser un cambio significativo en las actividades, como lo
demuestra el aumento de las cifras de robos, robos y trata de vehículos
robados.
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doi: 10.18278/ijc.6.2.3